Edwards proud of players as Luton lose 4-3 to Arsenal
Edwards proud of players as Luton lose 4-3 to Arsenal
Transcript
00:00 Any other thoughts?
00:07 Yeah, it does. I didn't really know what to say to the lads afterwards.
00:27 What I did say, I'm proud of them. Not to let that one moment then affect us too much.
00:36 I've got to try and look at the bigger picture. They did exactly what we asked of them, gave
00:42 everything and football is about entertainment, it was an entertaining game. I know my job
00:49 is to try and get points as well. We've just come up short tonight.
01:02 Yeah, I think every game is different though, Jay, as well, isn't it? So I think we dipped
01:06 our level a little bit on Saturday, but apart from that, our performances have been good.
01:13 You're playing against a top team like that, you know you have to give that, you have to
01:16 up it and you have to give even more because they're going to test us even more, they're
01:20 going to ask more questions and they did that. But I think we made it a really uncomfortable
01:25 night for them. They want a game of order and control and we tried to make it chaotic,
01:31 we tried to be really aggressive and brave and then we showed really good quality as
01:34 well when we had the ball in the moments that we had it. So, you're right, I think we can
01:42 take some positivity from it and we have to, but we know we need to get points as well
01:48 and you're right, performances are the things that will get us those.
01:53 Rob, can you give us an idea of what's been going on behind the scenes for Ross Barclay?
01:57 He looked to play in this adrift before he came here, but tonight he looked really good.
02:04 He's been like that from day one. He's come into the group with real humility, brilliant
02:10 professionalism. I think he's hungry to show people and Ross, I can't speak highly enough
02:17 of him. He's allowed us to change. Football, in the end, is about players and the quality
02:22 of your players and we can obviously, as coaches, try and get the most out of them, try and
02:25 build belief, confidence, organisation and try and improve individuals. That's our job,
02:31 of course, but quality, he's just got that and he's allowed us to evolve and change.
02:42 The crowd reacted quite angrily towards the end. Were you annoyed at the start of the time or was it just one of those things for you?
02:48 I was annoyed, but I wasn't surprised.
02:52 They're always going to be able to see that phase of the set play out and the second phase.
02:58 We've got to make sure we deal with it. I spoke to Thomas Frank about Arsenal the other day
03:05 and he was obviously disappointed they lost to a late goal the other day as well, not long ago, against them.
03:10 He said, 'Look, in the end, it's world-class quality from Saka and Havertz and tonight the cross is on the money.
03:16 You know it's going to be Declan Rice, top, top player, heading it in.
03:21 It's decided by top players.
03:23 We know we can be better, but we gave it our best and we pushed them.
03:29 You said before the game you didn't want to make Arsenal angry, but I guess by going and crashing, you did.
03:37 Yes, we did.
03:39 I thought we showed a lot of character and bravery to come back twice and to get in the lead.
03:44 Do you know what? I was talking to the subs when the third goal went in and I haven't actually had time to look at the third goal,
03:49 so I haven't even seen it, their equaliser. That clearly changed.
03:54 It gives them a fresh impetus and it's a little bit more difficult to continue to press and be aggressive.
04:00 We tried. They probably started taking a little bit more control the last 15 minutes or so, which they're going to do.
04:07 We hope we've done enough to see it out, but it wasn't to be.
04:10 I'm thinking this job started in a quite frustrating manner for the first couple of weeks.
04:17 Yes, you could say that.
04:19 Yes, we gave away another gift.
04:24 We did. I think the timing then to equalise not too long later then was a really important and brilliant goal.
04:30 I always say it's the goals that we can see.
04:33 There's always three or four things, but yes, there were a couple of glaring errors there.
04:37 But, again, we didn't allow it to fester or knock us.
04:41 We dusted ourselves down, stuck our chests out and then went again and go and score the next one.
04:46 And that's the mentality that I want in this group.
04:48 They show it all the time, the spirit, the fight.
04:51 They get a setback, they keep going.
04:53 And we got a few setbacks tonight and we kept going.
04:58 Ultimately, they delivered the final blow, but we'll pick ourselves up and we'll be ready to go again on Sunday.
05:04 How are you getting on with the squad?
05:10 Yes, really pleased for Eli.
05:12 Alfie's delivery is always on the money.
05:14 I think he's got to have a lot of assists.
05:17 There's a lot of quality in those situations.
05:19 We work hard on them.
05:20 We value them. We have to.
05:22 We know against teams like this, we're not going to get loads of opportunities to get the ball into dangerous areas.
05:25 So, when we do get set pieces, we work hard on them.
05:29 There won't be many nights where they concede two from corners because they're really well organised themselves
05:33 and they're big and aggressive.
05:35 So, it's credit to the players.
05:36 You conceded three away all season as well, so if they score three in a row, how much of a positive is it?
05:42 A lot, yes, a lot.
05:44 We looked a threat, talked about before the game,
05:47 scoring goals and being more of a threat.
05:51 Our actual goal is four.
05:52 If you look at teams that normally are in and around it, goal four is not too bad.
05:57 It's in line with a number of other teams.
05:59 So, it's not an area that we're always wanting to try and do better and score more.
06:03 But creating chances, as you know, has not been our weakest bit.
06:10 We need to make sure we keep it out the other end.
06:12 And that was what cost us in the end tonight.
06:17 Yes, I don't think I've ever seen them so disappointed or flat.
06:24 They were hurt by it.
06:26 We all were, but all I can say again to them is that they gave everything.
06:30 They're proud. They made the supporters proud.
06:32 The fans are all staying at the end and standing up and clapping.
06:35 We know we've done our job when they're doing that.
06:37 I always say that.
06:39 The difference tonight between a 3-3 and a 4-3 was obviously,
06:43 it was just those few seconds.
06:46 If we can learn from it, but almost eliminate it from how I feel about the game,
06:52 then I'm really, really proud of the players.
06:54 Rob, just on that, obviously it was a really emotional night.
07:00 The stadium was rocking at one point.
07:02 The players have just left, obviously there's nothing left for the time.
07:06 It was a pretty big game on Sunday as well.
07:08 How can you get them back up for that?
07:12 The option is we have to, you know, because if we don't,
07:15 then Man City can punish you, can't they?
07:18 So, if we don't re-energise, refocus and get ourselves back on it,
07:24 we're going to be struggling.
07:25 The players will know that.
07:28 Do you know what? This group are strong.
07:29 They'll come bouncing in tomorrow.
07:31 They will, and I'll make sure of that as well.
07:33 I'll go bouncing in tomorrow and, again, we'll learn from it,
07:36 the areas that we know we can improve in and be better,
07:38 but there's a lot there, and we've shown a lot of people there that
07:42 we're a decent team, we're not to just be laughed at,
07:44 or what they're doing here.
07:46 We're fighting, and we're going to have to do that on Sunday.
07:51 We know it against arguably an even better team.
07:55 Thank you.
07:59 Thanks.